Joint for woodwork.



H. S. BROWN.

JOINT FOR WOGDWORK.. APPucATroN FILED MAR.24. 1917.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

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JOINT FOR WOODWORK.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it lrnown that I, I-IoRATIo S. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Williams, in the county of Beltrami and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Joints for Voodwork, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved joint for woodwork and has for its primary object to provide a very simple device for tightly and'securely joining adjacent pieces 0r sections of cabinet work or wooden frame structures in an expeditious manner, and with a minimum of manual labor.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a joint device of the above character which is so constructed that the necessity of providing a tenen upon one of the pieces to bel joined is obviated, both pieces being mortised to receive the joint device, said device being rendered effective to securely join and hold the parts against relative movement by the mere operation of forcing the parts toward each other.

It is a further general object of my invention to improve and simplify the construction of devices of the above character whereby the same are rendered eflicient and reliable in practical use and capable of manufacture at relatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which, Y

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through my improved joint device, showing the same in operative position connecting the two parts together;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the joint;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the clenching members;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the wedge blocks; and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section showing a slightly modified form of the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, A and respectively, designate the two parts to be joined together, eachof which is provided with a mortise My ,improved joint member., in its pre- Specication cf Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

Application filed March 24, 1917. Serial No. 157,206.

ferred form, includes a sheet metal tube 5 which is rolled or otherwise formed from a flat, metal plate and has its edges slightly separated or unconnected as shown at 6, so that the tube, when subjected to internal pressure, may expand. This tube, in spaced relation to each of its ends and at diametrically opposite points, is provided with longitudinal slots 7.

Each of the clenching members illustrated in detail in Fig. 4C, consists of a narrow, elongated, metal base plate 8 which is provided in spaced relation to one of its ends with a transversely disposed clenching lug 9 extending from one side of the plate at right angles thereto, said lug having a sharpened edge, as indicated at 10. A web 11 is integrally connected to one side of this lug and to the base plate 9, and extends longitudinally of the latter, the outer edge of said web being inclined with respect to the base plate at an angle substantially 45 and also sharpened as shown at 12. This sharpened edge of the web extends from the outer extremity of the lug 9 to the face of the base plate 8 and, at its latter end, is disposed in spaced relation to the end of the plate. To the opposite ends of the base plate and on the same face thereof as the lug 9, one end of a longitudinally extending leaf spring 13 is riveted or otherwise securely fixed. This plate is bent or returned upon itself to provide the free, resilient, end portion 14, and the terminal 15 thereof is reversely bent to provide a hook thereon for a purpose to be presently related.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing, I have shown one of the cylindrical wedge blocks 16, said wedge block being of longitudinal, tapering form and having opposite flattened faces, each of which is provided with a groove or channel 17. One of these wedge blocks cooperates with each pair of the clenching members, the base plates 8 being slidably engaged in the groove 17.

In using the device, it will be understood that the mortise M in each of the parts to be joined, is of a depth exactly one-half the length of the tube 6. A pair of the clenching members is first arranged in each end of the tube with the hooks 15 on the ends of the leaf springs 13 projecting outwardly through the slots 7 and engaged over the inner end edges thereof. The smaller end of one of the wedge blocks 1.6 is then inserted bave-@1,1 the wie @nds 0f the riprese@ plates 8, said plates engaging inthe respective channels 17 of the wedge block. YThe end portion of tliefv spring-13 issospac'edw with respect to the plate 8 that the outer ends of the lugs 9 are disposed Ainthe slots 7 and flush with the outer surface of the tube "6 when tliedevice is inserted intotthemortise M and before there is any `wedging action of the blocks 16 upon the plates 8. As

l theitwoparts to be joined are yforcedtogether,the larger ends of the wedgeblocks '16 are engaged by the base walls of thevmor- Vtises M and said wedge blocks lforcedinto A-the opposite ends ofthe tubefG. The base walls ofthe grooves 17 in the. wedge blocks eXert a lateral outward pressureagainst the A outer ends of the. plates 8 and thereby project the lugs 9 and webs 11 outwardly through the slots 7 ofthe tube and vcause the same to bite into thewalls ofA the mortises M. Vhen Vthe parts A and Bliave been `pushed togetherl with their opposed edges in abutting contact, the `outer ends of `:the'wedge blocks 16 will be flush-'with the ends of the tube Gand entirely` disposed within said tube. 'These wedgebloclzs also `exert an expansive pressure against the `walls of the tube so Ias to urge the tube walls z into tight Vfrictional engagement with the 3@ walls of theinortises. The plates 8 of the Yclenchingdevices being disposed within"4 the ychann'elsor grooves 17 of the wedge blocks effectively prevent anyv circumferential displacementof the clenching ,members with `respect to the tube.

In Fig.` 6, I have illustrated a slightly modiiied Aform of the joint or fastening Y'memberwherein only one pair of the clenching members 1and one of thefwedgefblocks im is employed. In this construction, the tube 6 `is provided upon oneof itsl ends with an ornamental head designated 18, and adjacent to the lothertend ofthe tube the yopposed slots 7 are formed in the wall thereof. The clenching members'are arrangedv within the other endof the tube in the manner above explained and the wedge block`16 'engaged between said members. Thisform offthe device is used for fastening the parts 5o of aframework or other structure together,

fjectthe 'clenching' lugsoutwardlyfthrough Y `the slots in the wall of thextube. When the inner faceY of theloi'namental head 18 en- Vgages'the` outer face of the part C, the Wedge block will be Aentirely .disposed 'within' the tube' and the `"clenching lugs'u projected to lugs 9 engage the inner end edges of the 'slots in the tube 6 in both forms of the de- Vvice vso`v that aftight' joint will be obtained.

connectionwith the accompanying drawing, f the construction; manner lof use, andseveral advantages ofthe inventionf will X be 1 clearly and? fully understood. By meansof my improved joint device; `the joining or' connecting of various partsfoffurnitureor other wooden structures be easily and quickly 1 accomplished and JIthe partsi `connected securely together andf held against nall possibility'of-'relative` movement. The necessity of Iproviding amortisefonf one *piece""tot Awithin a -tenon onftheopposed ipiece isbbviated,i and as ythese tenons Imust be` :accurately "formed tomalre. a perfect itin the mortise; much' timeand `work is thus saved. The improved joint devicermay be' manufactured in various sizes andtatjrelatively small: cost.

While'l have `herein shown and described the preferred `construction 'and xarrangement of the'sever'alJelementsemployed, it

vis to beunderstoodthat the Ldevice `is lsusceptibleof considerable modification therein and I, 'thereforeyreserverthe privilege of adopting' alljsuch legitimatechanges as may y-be fairly `embodied within the 'spirit t and scopeof theinvention as claimed.

Having 'thus n fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secureby Letters Patent. is: v

rdowel for joining wooden parts com-i .prising a tube providedV withy diametrically opposed slots `in its wall, clenching members `disposedwithin the tube, yieldable means connected'to eachfof said members to. resist their outward movement throughsaid slots,

vand a wedge block insertibleintothe tube between the clenching membersv and adapted to engagethe basewall of themortise in one of the parts'to project the clenching members outwardly throng saidslots and into engagement with saidpart.

2.' A dowel for joining wooden parts comprising a tube provided 'with' diametrically opposed slots in vits wall, clenching members disposed within the tube, yieldablefmeansconnected to each of saidmembers to resist their-outward movement through said slots,

. and a wedge block insertible into the tube between the clenching members andfadapted lto engfagleL the base wall of themortise in l j l j one `o t e arts'toVV ro`e'ct `the clenchin members outwardly through sadslots and into engagement with said part, the yieldable means for each clenching member also co-acting with the tube and permitting of a longitudinal movement of the tube and wedge blocks with respect to the clenching members.

3. A dowel for joining wooden parts oomprising a tube provided with diametrically opposed, longitudinal slots adjacent each of its ends, a pair of clenching members arranged in each end of the tube, a spring connected to each of the olenching members and normally acting to yieldingly retain the same in the wood, and wedge members insertible into each end of the tube between the clenching members therein to project said members outwardly through the slots in the tube and into engagement with the wood part, the spring of each clenching member being engaged over one end edge of the slot and permitting of the longitudinal movement of said wedge members with respect to the clenching members.

4. The combination recited in claim 3, further characterized by the tube being eX- pansible under the vaction of the Wedge blocks to expand the tube into tight frictional engagement with the mortises in the wood parts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afx my 30 signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HORATIO S. BROWN.

Witnesses:

R. H. SANFORD, A. W. ATWATER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

